Most people are aware that heavy alcohol consumption isn’t healthy for the body and can cause various issues like obesity and liver disease. But did you know that alcohol affects teeth, too? Moderate alcohol can be part of a healthy lifestyle, but people who drink frequently are likely to notice issues with their oral health in the long run.
Alcohol Affects Teeth With Sugar
The harmful bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar, so they thrive when you eat or drink something sweet. Alcohol affects teeth much like soft drinks and fruit juices, so it’s important to brush thoroughly after drinking.
Otherwise, the bacteria can grow, create harmful acids and weaken your enamel, leading to tooth decay, cavities, and other dental problems.
Some alcoholic drinks are worse than others. Spirits like vodka, gin, rum, and whiskey contain less sugar, however, they are often mixed with a non-alcoholic beverage, which often increase the sugar content.
Alcohol Affects Teeth by Causing Dehydration
Saliva is important for several reasons. It lubricates the mouth when you chew, makes digestion easier, moistens your mouth, and flushes away harmful substances.
It also neutralizes your breath and breaks down acids that could otherwise cause tooth decay. Alcohol affects teeth by causing dehydration. When you drink alcohol, your mouth becomes dryer, and the flow of saliva slows down.
This allows bacteria to cling to your enamel and heightens the risk of tooth problems. It could also cause embarrassing symptoms like bad breath. To prevent mouth dehydration, drink a glass of water with each glass of alcohol you consume. Chewing on gum could also ease the problem.
Alcohol Affects Teeth With Staining
If you choose alcohol that is darker like red wine, beer made from dark barley, or sangria, you will experience permanent staining. The enamel, which might already be compromised due to the bacteria in your mouth, will turn dark red or brown and appear dull.
People who drink these beverages only occasionally won’t necessarily notice enamel staining. However, regular drinkers need to take some precautions to prevent severe discoloration.
Chew sugar-free gum or eat something every time you drink dark alcohol, and brush well after the meal is over. If you have already experienced staining, visit your dentist to find out what tooth whitening treatments there are.
Other Ways Alcohol Affects Teeth
Other ways alcohol affects teeth depend on the kinds of beverages you consume. If you often go for drinks that are citrus-flavored or contain a lemon, lime, or orange slice, you might cause further damage your enamel due to the acidity.
Acidity can remove the hard enamel on your teeth, which can lead to tooth surface loss, tooth decay, cavities, and more. This also leaves your teeth more susceptible to erosion due to teeth grinding.
How to Prevent Problems
Now that you know how alcohol affects teeth, you might wonder whether you need to stop drinking certain kinds of beverages. Everyone is different, but generally the best way forward is to moderate your alcohol intake. The current guideline is that men should limit intake to two drinks a day and women to one drink a day.
Every time you finish drinking alcohol, brush your teeth with toothpaste that contains fluoride. Floss every evening, and use mouthwash if necessary. Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on all oral products.
Check out why the ADA Seal is important.
Other Substances to Avoid
Alcohol isn’t the only substance that can cause cavities, staining, and other oral health issues. Many of the foods and drinks we consume daily lead to these problems. While maintaining good oral hygiene goes a long way, it’s even better to avoid certain substances, especially ones that aren’t nutritionally valuable.
If you find it hard to cut out sugary and acidic foods, limit your intake to one or two days a week to give your body a break. A great place to start is eating a healthy diet during the week and treating yourself on the weekend.
Nicotine Affects Teeth
Tobacco products contain nicotine, which promotes tooth decay and can even cause gum disease. It restricts the blood flow in the mouth, so your tissues aren’t able to repair themselves and fight infection as effectively as before.
Vape juice contains propylene glycol, a substance that dries out the mouth and causes issues similar to alcohol. Many vape products are made with vegetable glycerin. This sweetener sticks to your enamel and causes harmful microbes to grow and linger.
Coffee and Tea Affects Teeth
People who are worried about staining need to avoid beverages like coffee and tea. Just like alcohol, caffeine dries out your tissues, so your body might no longer produce as much saliva as before.
Those who drink several cups a day often notice that their enamel takes on a brown tint and is no longer as shiny as before. Although there are teeth whitening treatments, prevention is more effective and less expensive.
If you can, replace black tea with herbal tea, which is less likely to cause staining. Drink a cup of water after every cup of tea or coffee you consume to flush the harmful substances away from your mouth and replenish your body’s store of water.
Alcohol affects teeth in a number of ways. Heavy alcohol consumption, especially when paired with other substances like coffee, nicotine, and sugar, can cause a dry and uncomfortable mouth, tooth decay, staining, and other oral health issues. However, there are several ways of preventing these problems. You can reduce your risk by moderating your consumption, brushing and flossing after you consume alcohol, and drinking plenty of water.
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